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Can anyone please tell me if its "necessary" to take Atripla on an empty stomach and what is the time from eating a meal and taking Atripla. I've been on it for over a week now with only minimal side effects the first few nights. I stopped eating at 7:30 pm and took my meds around 10-10:30 pm. Last night, I inadvertently forgot about the empty stomach and ate some cereal about 45 minutes before I took my meds. I didn't feel any adverse reaction.

Why is it necessary to take Atripla on an empty stomach. Is it because of side effects that some may have or requirement for the meds to absorb into the body without food.

Can anyone please tell me the optimum time for an "empty stomach" For instance, can I have a snack before I go to bed? If so, will this decrease the effectiveness of the drug ..

I haven't been able to find anything except take on an "empty stomach" ... no mention of time or reason. This is a question i want to pose to my doc during my next visit.

In terms of the drug working, it is not necessary (1) to take Atripla at night (2) take it without food.

The recommendations to take at night on an emprty stomach relate to side effects. Many people find one of the drugs in Atripla, efavirenz, causes more vivd dreams with food and is disorientating if taken when awake eg in the morning.

But the drugs will work, food or no food, and whether taken morning, noon or night.

Indeed, the farting/bloating that sometimes goes with another drug in Atripla, tenofovir, may even be reduced when taken with food.

When I took Sustiva/efavirenz I noticed that I got a drunk/high feeling if I took the meds close to a high fat meal. (for instance a Big Mac super size meal w. milkshake + efavirenz is way cheaper and probably less harmful than alcohol or recreational drugs if you want to feel spaced out )

hey, Ive been taking Atripla for about 3 weeks now, and i have some side effects but i really think it depends on the person, whether they have side effects or not if food will effect it or not. i had too much to drink one night and had waffle house!!! and then took my pill and nothing really seemed different except i slept through the entire night. the first in weeks!

Good question. I struggle with this one as well. My partner (HIV-) and I usually eat dinner around 8 PM every night. I'm usually in bed by 9:30. As a result, and in keeping with my doctor's wishes to take Atripla on and empty stomach, I take it every day at 5:30 pm when I get home before work and before the gym. This is basically the only time of day I know for sure my stomach is empty as I don't typically snack after lunch and before dinner.

I've only 2.5 weeks on Atripla and this thread is a great help. The groggy mornings are gone. No issues with dreams, rash, etc.

Bedtime isn't going to work for me long term, and the empty stomach. Knowing that food and timing are easily changed is great. Gas has been bothering me and, according to one post taking it with some food will help with that.

When you moved your dose time from, say bedtime to morning, did you change in one step or gradually change the time?

I just changed taking Atripla from evening to morning. My doctor was hesitant. He said that there are very few people that can handle the side effects while awake. So he had me wait for the weekend, then take my regular dose on Friday night, and then Saturday morning take another dose making that my new time.

Saturday was interesting to say the least. The most I experienced was a light headed feeling and feeling somewhat disorientated at times, but I made it through the first day relatively fine. Today is Sunday. We'll see how the second day goes.

I will have to say that last night I had the best sleep ever - since I've been on Atripla. Oh, I should back up. The reason for the switch was because of inconsistent sleep patterns both in the dead of night and in the early evening. I found myself wanting to go to sleep at 8pm and that just wasn't going to work for my lifestyle or line of work.

I really hoping that the daytime Atripla side effects wane off so that I can keep it this way.

i spoke to my doctor about this question, as I am cabin crew and i have to take the pill at the same time every 24 hours obviously (which is at 1600hrs London time) - but as i fly round the world my meal/sleep times change so sometimes I might be somewhere where i have no choice but to eat with it or take it before I have to work.

Food does not lessen the potency/effect of the medication, so don't worry about that. My understanding is that because Atripla can cause nausea - it's best on an empty stomach. Also, some foods (like protein and dairy) can exaggerate some sideeffects/make them worse.

I had really awful rash/side effects when I first started however these are gone, and now I've been eating as normal - sometimes with the pill, sometimes not. No problems to report here!

same here in regards to the eating schedule --- i have been on Atripla since December and eat whenever -- sometimes 15 minutes before taking the pill and sometimes right after.... haven't had any negative effects from doing it like that. I have a hard enough time remembering to take it (actually not really, since it is only one time a day) but I definitely would have difficulty making sure I dont eat before or 2 hours after --- thankfully, I don't have to --- everyone is different though and some might have to follow the suggested eating routines based on side effects.

My doctor said tht it'd be better to take it with empty stomach but if u feel little hungry u can have snacks as long as they aren't fatty. So far i always stop eating after 7pm and i dont feel any side effetcs anymore after 3 days.

I have been on the 123 pill for over a year. I can now take it with or without meals now. It does not mater when I take it now. My ID Doc said that the body adapts to the effects of the drug for most people.

I was told by my doctor that taking Atripla on an empty stomach will minimize stomach issues. I have been taking it at 11:00 AM. I have only been on it a few days, but have not had any major side effects yet except feeling a little tired about 1 hour after taking it. Good luck.

My doc told me that after about 10 weeks, the side effects lessened, so taking without food and at bedtime were not such an issue. I've been taking on Atripla for almost 2 years and haven't had any problems, even though I usually snack about an hour before bedtime.